I am going to visit great apes in the wild (chimpanzees, orangutans or gorillas). Should I wear a face mask? Yes, you should. According to the recommendations of experts at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), it is advised that all individuals, including staff, tourists, and researchers, who come within a distance of 10 […]
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Tag: Conservation
Ecological Ethics A&A —From Awareness To
Ecological Ethics A&A—From Awareness To Action My friend and I engaged in a profound discussion about ethics. Our conversation delved into the inherent fascination of our species with a limitless growth model, evident in various facets such as our aspirations for biological immortality and the dynamics of modern economies and business practices. As I reflected […]
Protecting the Elusive Peruvian Bear
“We can prevent starvation and the suffering of spectacled bears by protecting their habitat and engaging local villages in conservation.” —Robyn Appleton In 2016, Sam joined a conservation volunteer mission in Peru led by the Spectacled Bear Conservation Society. After she returned we chatted with Sam, wanting to hear more about her time with this small […]
An Urban Walk on the Wild Side
Winter is lingering over here in Massachusetts, and even though this past Saturday was grey, grim and wet, this did not deter a few of us to go out and track the wildlife of our very urban neighborhood. And what did we catch? No less than coyotes, foxes and more… I went out just a mere […]
Orangutan Health Field Research in Sumat...
Back in the field at the end of this month! Sharan was in Malaysia helping the establishment of a wildlife corridor earlier in October. This time, Claire is leaving for Sumatra to join a veterinary science program, with Orangutan Health Project (OHP), that researches the special behavior and ecological conditions necessary to maintain health in wild orangutans, using parasitic […]
EwA Field Work: Reporting from The Corri...
Live Reporting from the Field We are currently in Borneo, supporting reforestation efforts in the Kinabatangan area. The volunteer project, managed by Ape Malaysia, focuses on collaborating with the local Orang Sungai villagers to promote conservation and restore the original forests that were largely depleted due to logging and agriculture. This marks Sharan’s second visit […]
EwA Field Work: The Corridor of Life
We’ll be in the field this month! We’re excited to announce that our Associate (Sharan) will be in Borneo on a 2 week program from 21st September supporting reforestation in the Kinabatangan area. The volunteer project is run by Ape Malaysia and is dedicated to work with the local Orang Sungai villagers to collaborate and […]
My Profits from Trading Elephant Ivory
With 96 elephants killed by poachers every day for ivory and parts, the world needs to support Africa in curbing and eradicating the demand. It’s a slow process but a campaign of more stringent penalties for poachers and enforcing those penalties should help stop the supply. Can an international ban on ivory trade help? Or […]
My Journey to Becoming an Ethical Wildli...
I am so happy to have gained a better understanding of what it takes to be an ethical wildlife volunteer. This has been and still is an ongoing journey into realizing that our actions are not always ethical –not because we don’t want to be but rather because we don’t know– and that organizations may not […]
A Visit to a Rwandan Gorilla Family
In ‘the moment’, and when too excited by the experience, it’s very easy to forget the proper rule of conduct. Keeping a respectful distance is not just for your safety but is also about theirs (including their health). By not following the rules we are inconsiderate and unethical. Take this example of human recklessness when visiting a […]